Def Leppard & Heart – Vector Arena, 12 October 2011
Two rock giants of the 1980s lumbered into town and played to a three-quarters full Vector Arena in Auckland. Although both bands had their biggest commercial success during the pastel decade, Heart had been cranking out hits since their 1976 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, spawned AOR friendly tracks like Crazy On You and Magic Man. […]
Video Interview: We Are Augustines Direct From Brooklyn
We Are Augustines is the Brooklyn, New York-based band that rose from the ashes of Pela and features BillyMcCarthy and Eric Sanderson from that band. The duo recorded their debut album, Rise Ye Sunken Ships, and then recruited drummer Rob Allen to round out the group. The 13th Floor traveled to exotic Brooklyn to […]
Archival Interview: Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy Gives An Album-By-Album Rundown Of The Band’s Recorded History
We’re big Wilco fans at The 13th Floor and are very excited about the new album, The Whole Love. So, as a bonus, here is an interview with band leader Jeff Tweedy recorded on January 17, 2003, just before the band played Auckland’s Big Day Out. Click here to listen to the interview with […]
Interview: Mel Parsons Talks About Her New Album Red Grey Blue
Auckland-based singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has just released her second album. Titled Red Grey Blue, she co-produced it with the ubiquitous Jeremy Toy. Mel Has just set out to tour the country in support of the new album. Before hitting the road, she stopped by The 13th Floor to have a chat about her music, […]
Interview: Red Hot Chili Pipers Explain "Bag-Rock" & Why They Are Banned From The Rugby World Cup
Direct from Scotland, the Red Hot Chili Pipers begin their tour of NZ on Saturday September 30 at Auckland’s Vector Arena. Expect to hear tunes from anyone from The Who to Robbie Williams played on the bagpipes. The 13th Floor spoke to head Piper Kevin MacDonald about the upcoming tour and the group’s ban […]
Alice Cooper – Trusts Stadium, Auckland Sept. 22, 2011
It was March 5, 1973 when I first saw Alice Cooper. It was the Billion Dollar Babies tour and Alice was just starting to work his theatrics into the set…there was a dancing tooth that Alice chased with an oversized toothbrush and, of course, an execution of Alice. Almost 40 years later and we meet […]
Interview: Nick Lowe Talks About The Old Magic And Why Punk Sucked
The former Jesus Of Cool, Nick Lowe, has just released his new album, The Old Magic. Lowe, who has been recording since the 1960s is a veteran of the British pub rock scene (with his band Brinsley Schwartz) and the punk scene (producing The Damned and Elvis Costello). Lately his music has been a […]
Interview: Sean Donnelly (aka SJD) Talks About Joining Neil Finn’s Pajama Club
The Pajama Club is the entity that Neil Finn and wife Sharon created around the music they found themselves making while left with a bit of spare time. The music began to take shape when Sean Donnelly, who also records as SJD, joined in to help craft the songs. Their resulting self-titled album has […]
Interview: Frontier Touring’s Michael Gudinski’s 30 Years of Rock & Roll Roadwork
Frontier Touring has been promoting concerts in Australia and New Zealand since the early 1980s. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, they have published Every Poster Tells A Story an impressive hard-cover book featuring posters from just about every tour the company has promoted from Squeeze and The Police to Leonard Cohen and Pendulum. The […]
Theatre Review: Raising The Titanics
Auckland’s new Q Theatre has flung wide its doors, and at the opening night of the first show it felt worth the fifteen year wait. The facility itself is a magnificent addition to the city, and Raising The Titanics was the ultimate debut play. The stars were clearly in alignment as the play, written by […]
Interview: Joe Satriani Talks About The New Chickenfoot Album And Tour
Chickenfoot is the hard rock “supergroup” made up of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar (vocals) and Michael Anthony (bass) along with Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani. The band is just about to release their second album and then hit the road. The 13th Floor spoke to […]
Interview With Karl Steven of The Drab Doo Riffs
The Drab Doo Riffs have just released their third E.P. entitled A Fistful Of Doo-Riffs. Bandleader Karl Steven stopped by The 13th Floor to talk about the new music along with his work with The Vietnam War and Tourettes.
R.I.P Jerry Leiber and Nickolas Ashford
Two songwriting greats passed away today. Jerry Leiber was one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller. Together with Mike Stoller he wrote such rock classics as Hound Dog, Kansas City, Jailhouse Rock, Charlie Brown, Stand By Me and There Goes My Baby. Jerry Leiber was 78 years old. Click here to […]
Sisters Of Mercy Interview
The Sisters Of Mercy, led by founding member Andrew Eldritch, will finally perform in New Zealand at Auckland’s Powerstation, Thursday, September 22nd as part of their 30th Anniversay Tour. The 13th Floor caught up with Andrew and found the outspoken musician to be as feisty as ever. Click here to listen to the interview:
Re-Inventing The 80s With Nadine Loren
Born in Switzerland, raised in Germany and then New Zealand, Nadine Loren now lives in the United States where she has hooked up with veteran producer Peter Asher (Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor) and released an album full of 80s covers. Naked 80’s finds the singer reworking songs like Who’s That Girl, The Boys Of […]
Interview: Paul McLaney Talks About IMMRAM, Music and Mythology
In addition to being a recording artist under his own name and as Gramsci, Paul McLaney works on the other side of the music business at Mushroom Publishing. Now he can add Record Label Owner to his list of credits. Paul is one of three music lovers who have just started Escape Artists Recordings. […]
Interview: Building The Perfect Myth with Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey has been a member of The Church ever since the band first formed in Sydney in 1980. Lately he’s been recording and touring with Ricky Maymi, guitarist with The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The two have been working on a project called The Wilderness Years, an album of songs based upon a very […]
The 13th Floor Talks To Dave Alvin
Former Blaster Dave Alvin has just released one of the best albums of the year…it’s called Eleven Eleven. So, The 13th Floor was thrilled to get a chance to speak to Dave and find out more about some of those intriguing characters that pop up in his new songs. Click here to listen to […]
Adult Education: The Jon Toogood Interview
The Adults (Jon Toogood, Shayne Carter & Julia Deans) are about to embark on their first tour together. The 13th Floor spoke to Jon Toogood just as they began rehearsals for the upcoming shows. Click here to listen to the interview with Jon Toogood: Click here to watch The Adults perform at JB Hi-Fi. […]
Poolside with Ian Ball of Gomez
Gomez have just released their 7th studio album, Whatever’s On Your Mind. The 13th Floor spoke to Ian Ball, one of the band’s 3 front men as he was lounging at a public pool in his adopted home town of Los Angeles. Click here to listen to The 13th Floor interview with Ian Ball: […]